Photo by Community Care
Social workers undergo continuous performance evaluation through supervision, management meetings and annual appraisals.
While managers are similar appraised by those at even higher levels of seniority, some have argued that practitioners should be able to have their say on the performance of those they report into.
A 2024 Community Care poll found that social workers were more likely to leave an employer over unsupportive management than pay – and enabling them to appraise their managers may be one way of addressing this.
“All managers should be accountable to workers and service users, and we should be able to give feedback on their performance, as they do on ours,” said one practitioner, in a recent article about social workers’ views of management.
But do social workers agree?
A Community Care poll of around 1250 respondents found that 86% believed managers should be reviewed by their staff as part of their annual appraisals, in order to “ensure accountability”.
Only 14% felt this would add to “the already significant pressures on managers”.
‘Managers should be subject to scrutiny’
“Social work managers should be subject to much more scrutiny than they are, because ultimately their team depends upon them and looks to them for advice and guidance,” commented Mark.
Another social worker, Sara, described management in the sector as “out of touch” with frontline realities.
“If you raise an issue about workload, it is your fault,” she added. “If a client complains, it is your fault.
“I love social work, but hate the office politics, blame culture. If you speak up, you are classed as a trouble maker, then you are ostracised by managers and in the worst case get moved to another team.”
‘The very best managers know what it means to be compassionate’
Rose highlighted the stark contrast between good and poor leadership, stressing that “the very best managers” are those who are “compassionate and encouraging.”
“I have had the very best and very worst of managers in my 13 years in children’s social care,” she said.
“The difference between them was not what pressures they were under themselves, or issues of having to meet unrealistic targets. It was a sound understanding of what it means and looks like to be compassionate, empathic, supportive and encouraging.”
Celebrate those who’ve inspired you
Photo by Daniel Laflor/peopleimages.com/ AdobeStock
Do you have a colleague, mentor, or social work figure you can’t help but gush about?
Our My Brilliant Colleague series invites you to celebrate anyone within social work who has inspired you – whether current or former colleagues, managers, students, lecturers, mentors or prominent past or present sector figures whom you have admired from afar.
Nominate your colleague or social work inspiration by filling in our nominations form with a few paragraphs (100-250 words) explaining how and why the person has inspired you.
*Please note that, despite the need to provide your name and role, you or the nominee can be anonymous in the published entry*
If you have any questions, email our community journalist, Anastasia Koutsounia, at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com
